Method to aid the walking-while-texting smart phone user navigate around obstacles in the forward path

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a method, and embodiments of such method, that permit a ‘smart phone” user, during the typical “walking while texting” activity, namely, of walking while holding the device approximately horizontally and head bent forward with eyes looking down on the screen, to see objects ahead in the direction of travel, by presenting on the screen images captured by an internal moveable camera that is continuously and automatically adjusted to point horizontally forward. The goal is to assist said user in avoiding obstacles and danger in the forward path.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This present invention pertains to safety aids for mobile communication device users who are “walking and texting”.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Advances in digital information technology have resulted in a new class of mobile communication devices called ‘smart’ phones, or ‘smart’ tablets. In this class of devices, there is the provision of a high resolution touch screen, capable of output of images and text; a camera with dedicated Graphic Processing Unit, which controls image refinement and display; an accelerometer, for detecting the attitude of the device in reference to gravity, the latter a necessary part in maintaining up-right views on the screen irrespective of the way the device is held; and the ability to execute after-market application programs. Input is mostly through the touch screen, with a few designs utilizing a keyboard.

With the advent of one-piece monolithic or “slate” design in smart phones which can be held and operated with one hand, immediate wireless short message exchanges are increasingly used for communication between users. When these exchanges become engaging, users often are reading or typing messages (texting) while walking, keeping the devices in their half-extended hands and bending their heads downward to read the contents of the screens. Most users hold the screens tilted, with the top ends of the devices about a few degrees to 60 degrees above the horizon. In these “walking while texting” positions, obstacles more than a step ahead are outside of their visual fields. While collisions with pedestrians and stationery objects cause minor injuries, walking into moving traffic has serious consequences.

Recent advances in digital camera technology have provided mobile phone digital camera modules that are light weight and smaller than 10 mm in any Cartesian dimension, comprise the lenses, focusing mechanisms, and sensor circuitries. The output format of these camera modules has been standardized and involves about a dozen connectors or soldered surface-mounted connections between the camera assembly and other components responsible for further processing of camera images, namely the GPU and the memory on the main circuitry.

Recent developments in the operating systems of mobile devices allow devices to run two programs on the same screen, enabling simultaneous display of a graphic image and any selected program. A part of the screen can be dedicated to an instantaneous image from the camera, while the other part can be used to execute the messaging software. For older operating systems that do not support split screen, immediate images from the camera can be displayed as a background of the messaging software by simple alterations in the display codes.

The recent design of most “messaging” or “texting” programs display each text message sent or received inside a demarcated area on the screen with opaque background called a “text bubble”. These can be altered to any degrees of transparency, so camera views of the frontal horizon, when displayed as background, are clearly visible.

The present invention is a method to deliver to the screen a frontal view of the “walking while texting” user by modification or addition to the aforementioned existing hardware and software of a smart phone, comprises (a) mechanical modifications of the camera assembly to be hinged appropriately to the main body of the mobile phone which allow easy positioning by a small stepper motor, to rotate and, in some cases, move the camera assembly outwards on deployment, while maintaining the monolithic physical profile when stowed; (b) provision of a wide angle view for the camera; (c) utilizing the accelerometer to programmed the camera to point forward at the horizon for all positions the mobile phone is held during “texting”, with capability of continuous adjustments; (d) presentation on the screen of the said frontal view by appropriate software for the particular operating systems and application programs; and (e) optional provision of simple analysis of the captured image to trigger alerts to the user.

There are prior art that disclose cameras of mobile devices capable of pointing orthogonally to the display screens, and able to provide frontal views. In USP application 2005/001922 by Lee, a disclosure is made of a mountable camera which angle with the mobile communication device is manually adjustable. In USP application 2006/0197863 by Kim, a camera capable of being rotated inside a transparent casing and manually adjusted by a sliding bar is disclosed. Pan discloses in U.S. Pat. No. 7,392,071 a separate manually adjusted rotary module with a digital camera hinged to the main body of a clam-shell style mobile phone. In U.S. Pat. No. 7,425,100, Castaneda discloses a retractable camera that can be manually extricated and positioned in a clam-shell type mobile device. Kessler discloses in U.S. Pat. No. 9,654,675 a system of prisms, each with a different property, manually removed and replaced, to redirect the view of the camera at different device positions. All these disclosures have the capability of pointing the camera in the frontal direction when the communication device is held at a fixed position, but none capable of automatically adjusting the camera direction to provide a continuous frontal view during variation of the mobile device attitude. Furthermore, none of these disclosures provide useful wide angle frontal images to guide the “walking while texting” user, and merge said images onto the screen. This present invention provides improvements over these limitations, by employing a stepper motor controlled by the CPU to position the hinged camera, utilizing data from the resident accelerometer.

Two more pertinent disclosures are USP application 2013/0231157 by Chung, and USP application 2015/0123992 by Mahan. In the former application, a disclosure is made for a design where the camera is placed at the front edge area of a cellular phone, supplying an image to be merged with contents derived from internet communication. This design is limited to users who hold their screens flat, and excludes any other “texting” position. The application by Mahan pertains to ‘environmental signal representing actual images’ from one or more cameras, the latter mounted to the wireless device on a beveled edge, these cameras are “caused” to “face forward relative to the screen”. The disclosure is not about images from the cameras, but the corresponding ‘environmental signal’ which are non-specific, and does not pertain to actual wide angular FOV views captured by the camera. There is no specified capability to automatically adjust to user position in order to maintain a continuous frontal view.

In summary, the present invention is novel, and an improvement over all prior arts in that the camera is given the ability to rotate, or extend and retract, thus able to continuously adjust with the attitude data from the accelerometer. With provisions of optical structures, and software modifications, this invention provides a wide angle image of the frontal horizon of the “walking while texting” user, irrespective of user position, and present the image onto the screen to help navigate the forward path.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the specification concludes with claims distinctly particular with the method of the invention and the preferred embodiments and variations, the descriptions and drawings herein are non-limiting examples, provided to facilitate better understanding of the invention disclosed herein. These are conceptual in general, with approximate proportions and arrangements, and are not to be considered as limiting examples of variations or modifications.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a personal mobile communication device having a high resolution screen (a “smart phone”) held in the typical attitude of “texting” with the moveable camera assembly deployed.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an embodiment of a moveable camera assembly in a “smart phone” with a moveable additional refractive component, and the associated mechanical system.

FIG. 3 is a view of the mechanical elements in one of the possible embodiments of the camera assembly positioning system, by which the camera assembly can be positioned.

FIG. 4 is a view of the camera assembly positioning mechanics when deployed.

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of a front-facing camera modified to a moveable camera assembly.

FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of a moveable rear-facing camera assembly with the hinge pin at the front upper edge of the “smart phone”.

FIG. 7 is a simplified illustration of an enclosure of the camera assembly with varying refractive properties.

FIG. 8 is a schematic side view of a moveable rear-facing camera assembly with rotary capability at the top end of the “smart phone” within a transparent enclosure of varying convexity.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The typical recent personal mobile communication device comprises a high resolution touch screen for display with capability to run multiple applications is herein referred simply as a “smart phone”. Most, if not all, has a monolithic design, with width that fits in the hand of the user; with thickness about 10 mm, almost flat on both the front and rear surfaces; with a camera in the upper part of the rear facing surface; and usually another camera in the front facing surface. The input can be through the touch screen, or through a hardware keyboard.

The present invention is a method, with variations, and the embodiments of said method and variations, to aid the “walking while texting” user of a “smart phone”, by pointing a camera at the forward horizon to provide a wide angle frontal view on the screen. The direction of the camera is continuously adjusting to changes in the user's hand position. In order to realize the said functions, changes comprised of modifications to the present monolithic design, additions of mechanical devices, and alteration of software, are necessary.

The first part of this method involves several physical design changes to the existing smart phone. The first of this physical change involves the camera, which is modified by providing it with flexible connections to the main body, and with a mounting design that allows the camera to rotate, and in some embodiments, be swung away from the main body, to point in the forward direction. This is accomplished by attaching or enclosing the camera in a moveable housing, the entirety is herein called the camera assembly, and hinged said assembly to the upper part of the smart phone. FIG. 1 shows schematically one embodiment as a side view of a “smart phone” when held by a “walking while texting” user. The smart phone 100 comprises a high resolution screen 101 on the front surface, a back facing surface 102, with a moveable rear-facing camera assembly 103 hinged on the main body near the upper end of the device. The smart phone is shown in a typical position of use, at an angle of 105 with the horizon (the horizon being the x co-ordinate of the diagram), and the camera assembly deployed and swung away from the body, with the lens 104 pointing forward horizontally. From the flushed stowage position the camera assembly has moved through an angle of 106, the latter being equal to 90 degrees minus the grip attitude angle 105. Appropriate design of the housing and the hinge will permit a range of movement of up to 90 degrees if the camera assembly is a rear-facing camera, and a range of movement up to 180 degrees if the camera is a front-facing one. Only modification of the rear-facing camera is shown here in FIG. 1.

The next physical change is to provide a wide angular field of view for the camera by either having the camera equipped with a wide-angle lens, or provision of an additional moveable refractive element positioned in front of the normal camera lens to increase the angular FOV when the function is requested. The latter method returns portrait photograph capability to the camera once the additional refractive element is moved away from the lens. The additional lens can be manually moved into place, or can be positioned by an electro-mechanical system controlled by the CPU of the “smart phone”. FIG. 2 shows the right upper corner of the rear surface of a ‘smart phone’, with an embodiment of the camera with moveable refractive element which can be deployed automatically. Here, the rear surface of the smart phone is indicated by 201, with cavity 202 on the main body which houses the moveable camera assembly 203. The moveable camera assembly 203 is shown removed from the cavity 202, without showing the flexible electrical connections, with the hinge pin 205 on the side at the upper outer area of the assembly, and the positioning pin 204 on the same surface. A groove 206 is affixed to the top surface on the edge, which admits the sliding tongue 207, with a row of teeth 208 facing inwardly to engage a gear 209. The convex refractive element 210, which in this example is a cylindrical lens, is attached to the tongue 207. When the gear 209 is rotated against the row of teeth 208, the tongue 207 with the cylindrical lens 210 is moved to a position over the camera lens; and when rotated in the opposite direction the lens 201 is moved away from the camera lens. The driving component that rotates the gear 209 is not shown, and can be one of many rotating devices, such as a stepper motor, with or without gears. The camera assembly, once with the refractive element properly placed, is flipped outwards by the camera assembly positioning system to point to the forward horizon.

The third design alteration is to replace the rigid connections or surface-mounted contacts between the camera assembly and the main circuitry, which numbers about twelve in most camera designs, with either flexible ribbon connectors, or some form of rotary electrical interface, in order to maintain data connection when the camera assembly is swung outwards.

The next and fourth physical addition to the novel “smart phone” is to provide means to swing the camera assembly to the appropriate angle away from the body to maintain a forward horizon view in the camera. There are numerous methods this motion can be achieved. FIG. 3 shows one embodiment of the camera assembly positioning system with some of the components. The orientation of this figure is with the rear face of the smart phone pointing upwards, and the camera in the stow position. The camera assembly comprises the camera assembly housing 301, the camera with the lens 302, the hinge pin 303 at the outer corner of the housing which rests in a pivot hole on the main body, the latter is not shown in the figure for reason of simplicity. On the lateral surface of the camera assembly, a positioning pin 305 affixed to the assembly housing and some distance from the hinge pin 303. Positioning pin 305 is fitted inside the hollowed slot of a positioning arm 306, and can slide within the slot. At the end of the arm 306 is an axle 304, which is connected to a rotating motor directly or via gears. The rotating mechanism is not shown. Rotation about the axle 304 causes the slotted arm 306 to rotate, and the positioning pin 305 to slide inside the slot as a result. The whole camera assembly 301 will rotate about the hinge pin 303.

For the particular embodiment shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 4 shows the relative positions of the basic components of the camera assembly position system when the camera is deployed. In this figure, the camera assembly 401 is tilted with the camera lens 402 pointing about 30 degrees from the position shown in FIG. 3 with the hinge pin 403 rotated inside the pivot hole, the latter is not included in the figure. The positioning arm 406 is rotated by driving force acting through the axle 404, with the actual drive not shown for simplicity. The angle the positional arm has rotated through from the stowage position is 407, and the positioning pin 405 has slid up the slot provided in the positioning arm.

FIG. 5 is a schematic of the side view of a smart phone with screen 500, showing the front-facing camera 502 being converted to a moveable camera assembly 501, with the hinge 503 on the front surface. The positioning arm 506 with the camera positioning pin 505 in the sliding slot has rotated the camera lens to point in the forward direction. The angle of the screen with the horizon is 508, and the front-facing camera assembly has been rotated an angle of 507 about the pivot 503. The value of angle 507 is 180 degrees less the value of angle 508. The gear 504 is powered by a rotating mechanism not shown in this figure.

One embodiment of this novel method is to have the position of the hinge at the upper edge of the “smart phone”. FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of one embodiment wherein the hinge 609 is at the upper front edge of the device, with screen 601, and rear surface 602. The moveable camera assembly 603 has the lens 604 pointing forward. The hinge 609 is a linear structure with a smooth pivot pin segment and a tooth gear segment, the latter rotated by gear 608 through the traction belt 607. In the figure, the angle of the screen with the horizon is 605, and the camera assembly 603 with lens 604, has been rotated by angle 606, the value of which is 90 degrees less value of angle 605.

One embodiment which employs one driving motor for both camera pivoting and changeable wide angle FOV for the camera is described in FIG. 7. With this embodiment, the camera assembly is a rear-facing camera in close proximity to the top end, within a transparent enclosure continuous with the monolithic body which is large enough to allow the required range of movement of the camera assembly. The said enclosure has a plane surface in front of the camera lens when the camera assembly is in stow position, and a convex refractive optical structure over the camera lens in positions of deployment. FIG. 7 illustrates the effects of the varied geometry of the clear enclosure, showing the convex refractive part acting as an addition lens to increase the angular field of view. When the camera points orthogonally to the “smart phone” rear surface, as shown in the upper part of FIG. 7, the camera view is through the planar part of the clear enclosure, and there is no distortion or alteration of the angular field of view of the camera. When the camera is rotated 90 degrees, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 7, the image captured by the camera is of a wide angular FOV.

FIG. 8 is a schematic drawing of a varying refractive enclosure with a camera assembly in the deployed position, with 801 being the screen on the front surface, 802 the rear surface, and 804 being the varying curvature clear enclosure. The camera assembly 803 is hinged at the pin 805, and being rotated about the hinge by gear 807 acting through a traction belt 806. The driving mechanism is not shown for simplicity. The camera assembly has rotated through the angle of 808 from the stowage position to point at the forward horizon through an optical structure which increases the FOV. With this embodiment, having the pivot pin on the camera assembly positioned in the center of the housing conserves the most space, a desirable feature if the “smart phone” is to be compact.

The described physical modifications with the corresponding driving systems are electrically connected to available output ports of the CPU, through which the actual digital signals needed to control the driving motors for both the camera assembly positioning system which rotates the axle (404 in FIG. 4), and the moveable refractive element system actuated via gear 209, are transmitted.

The second part of the present novel method involves additional software and modifications, in the control of the camera assembly and the optional lens, in the user interphase application software, and in image presentation captured by the camera.

Low level programs are needed to control the aforementioned mechanical systems. Recent improved mobile phone operating systems all have provision for application software to access information from the accelerometer. From the value of the tilt angle (item 105, FIG. 1), the amount of movement needed to position the camera assembly system is repeatedly calculated, and the position repeatedly adjusted, such that the camera is continuously moved to point at the frontal horizon. The software to control the moveable refraction element system, if present, is called on only at the start and the end of the operation.

The next step in software manipulation of the novel method is the user interface application software which initiates the low level programs and when requested, triggers the de-selection of the camera, and the stowage of the camera assembly with any moveable refractive component. Software is also needed to present the camera view to the screen, either as the background or on part of the screen. Modification of existing immediate messaging (texting) software is needed for some operating systems.

Lastly, software can be incorporated to analysis the image captured by the front-pointing camera. Two particular situations avail themselves for simple software detection of possible danger, namely, a repetitive flashing light in the same area of the image, and a fast moving image across the frontal view. Audible or visible alerts can be generated through the smart phone to warn the “walking while texting” user. 

I claim:
 1. A method that provides a continuous, self-adjusted, wide-angle view of the frontal horizon to a user of a ‘smart’ mobile communication device who is “walking while texting” with head down, such that obstacles and dangers in the forward path are displayed on the screen, comprising the steps of: a. Providing a moveable camera assembly by either modification of the typical fixed camera, or an addition of a moveable camera, wherein the camera is mounted on a casing, and said assembly hinged to the upper part of the main body of a monolithic “smart” mobile communication device, with an appropriate range of movement; b. Providing the said camera assembly with ability to be rotated or swung about the pivot to the main body, so as to point towards the frontal horizon of the intended path of travel of the user, and with ability to retract and preserve the monolithic design of the main body when desired; c. Providing the said camera with a wide angular field of view lens, or a provision for a mechanism wherein a refractive element can be moved in front of the camera lens to increase the angular FOV when camera is deployed, and be moved away from the camera lens in stowage, either manually or under control of software and actuation by the CPU and necessary mechanical system; d. Replacing the fixed, onboard or rigid electrical connectors from the camera assembly output to the main circuitry board, with flexible electric connectors or rotary electrical interfaces, allowing the said movement of the camera assembly while maintaining necessary data transfer; e. Providing a camera positioning system which is able to rotate, extend or swing the said camera outwards, or to retract the said camera assembly for stowage flushed with the surface of the monolithic body, comprises (1) mechanical connections between the main body of the mobile communication device and the camera assembly casing permitting the said movements; (2) a driving system, using either mechanical or electro-magnetic forces; and (3) control by the CPU or a dedicated microprocessor; f. Providing a catch to keep the camera assembly locked in stowage, with engaging and releasing mechanisms under control of the CPU or the said dedicated processor; g. Providing capability of sampling the built-in accelerometer for continuous information of the attitude of the mobile communication device, forward said information to the CPU, and from said data, calculate the appropriate amount of action needed for the camera positioning system, for such motions as rotation, extension and retraction, such that the camera is always pointing horizontally; h. Providing software to present the view from the said camera to the screen as the background of a messaging application program, or on a split screen; i. Optional provision of an image analysis software whereby flashing lights and fast changing objects in the captured image trigger both audio and visual alarms; j. Provision of capability of selecting and deselecting the said moveable camera, the process of image acquisition and the corresponding display on the screen.
 2. A method as in claim 1, where the moveable camera assembly is a rear-facing camera, the hinge in close proximity to the rear surface, with the camera assembly swings outward of the rear surface when deployed, and the angle which the said camera can swing about the pivot is up to 90 degrees.
 3. A method as in claim 1, where the moveable camera assembly is a rear-facing camera mounted on the top edge of the ‘smart’ mobile communication device, with the surface of the camera assembly flushed with the top border of the device when stowed, and the hinge in close proximity to the front surface. When deployed, the camera assembly stays within the plane of the rear surface, and the angle which the said camera can swing about the pivot is up to 90 degrees.
 4. A method as in claim 3, where the moveable camera assembly is provided with a clear enclosure continuous with the monolithic body of the “smart” mobile communication device, the said clear enclosure of optical quality material with or without varying refractive property in different regions.
 5. A method as in claim 1, where the moveable camera assembly is pivoted at the center, and rotated about the pivot by an appropriate rotary mechanism under the continuous control of the CPU.
 6. A method as in claim 5, where the moveable camera assembly is provide with a clear enclosure continuous with the monolithic body of the “smart phone”, the said clear enclosure of optical quality material with or without varying refractive property in different regions.
 7. A method as in claim 1, where the moveable camera assembly is a front-facing camera, the hinge in close proximity to the front surface, with the camera assembly swings outward of the front surface when deployed, and the angle which the said camera can swing about the pivot is up to 180 degrees.
 8. A method as in claim 1, where the moveable camera assembly is a front-facing camera mounted on the top edge of the ‘smart’ mobile communication device, with the surface of the camera assembly flushed with the top border of the device, and the hinge in close proximity to the rear surface. When deployed, the camera assembly staying within the plane of the front surface, and the angle which the said camera can swing about the pivot is up to 180 degrees.
 9. A method as in claim 8, where the moveable camera assembly is provided with a clear enclosure continuous with the monolithic body of the ‘smart’ mobile communication device, the said clear enclosure of optical quality material with or without varying refractive property in different regions.
 10. A smart mobile communication device of monolithic design capable of providing a continuous, self-adjusted, wide-angle view of the frontal horizon to a “walking while texting” user on the screen comprising the following modifications and additions to the present smart mobile communication device: a. A moveable camera mounted with the casing of the assembly hinged to the upper part of the main body of a monolithic smart mobile communication device, with ability to rotate about the hinge; b. The said camera assembly is capable of being rotated or swung outwards about the pivot to the main body, so as to point towards the frontal horizon of the intended path of travel of the user, and the said camera assembly when retracted is even with the surface of the main surface, maintaining the monolithic shape of the device; c. The said camera has a fixed wide angular field of view lens, or a mechanism wherein a refractive element can be moved in front of the camera lens to increase the angular FOV when camera is deployed, and be moved away from the camera lens in stowage, either manually or under control of software and actuation by the CPU and necessary mechanical system; d. Flexible electrical connectors on a ribbon or rotary electrical connectors, from the camera assembly output to the image data processing GPU or other hardware on the main circuitry board, said connectors permitting the said movement of the camera assembly, while maintaining the necessary data transfer; e. A camera positioning system to rotate, extend or swing the said camera outwards, or to retract the said camera assembly for stowage flushed with the surface of the monolithic body, comprises (1) mechanical connections between the main body of the mobile communication device and the camera assembly casing; (2) a driving system, using either mechanical or electro-magnetic forces; and (3) control by CPU or a dedicated microprocessor; f. A catch to keep the camera assembly locked in stowage, with engaging and releasing mechanisms under control of the CPU or the said additional dedicated processor; g. Access of information of the built-in accelerometer for continuous information of the attitude of the mobile communication device to the CPU, from said information, appropriate signals are generated to the said camera positioning system; h. Software to determine the amount of controlling action needed for the camera positioning system to cause the appropriate extension or retraction for the camera assembly such that the camera is always pointing horizontally; i. Software to present the view from the said camera to the screen as the background of a messaging application program, or on a split screen. j. Optional provision of an image analysis software whereby flashing lights and fast changing objects in the captured image trigger both audio and visual alarms; k. Software to enable selecting and deselecting the said moveable camera, and all related processes.
 11. A smart mobile communication device as in claim 10, where the moveable camera assembly is a rear-facing camera, the hinge in close proximity to the rear surface, with the camera assembly swings outward of the rear surface when deployed, and the angle which the said camera can swing about the pivot is up to 90 degrees.
 12. A smart mobile communication device as in claim 10, where the moveable camera assembly is a rear-facing camera mounted on the top edge of the device, with the surface of the camera assembly flushed with the top border of the device, and the hinge in close proximity to the front surface. When deployed, the camera assembly stays within the plane of the rear surface, and the angle which the said camera can swing about the pivot is up to 90 degrees.
 13. A smart mobile communication device as in claim 12, where the moveable camera assembly is provided with a clear enclosure continuous with the monolithic body of the ‘smart’ mobile communication device, the said clear enclosure of optical quality material with or without varying refractive property in different regions.
 14. A “smart phone” as in claim 10, where the moveable camera assembly is pivoted at the center, and rotated about the pivot by an appropriate rotary mechanism under the continuous control of the CPU.
 15. A “smart phone” as in claim 14, where the moveable camera assembly is provide with a clear enclosure continuous with the monolithic body of the “smart phone”, the said clear enclosure of optical quality material with or without varying refractive property in different regions.
 16. A smart mobile communication device as in claim 10, where the moveable camera assembly is a front-facing camera, the hinge in close proximity to the front surface, with the camera assembly swings outward of the front surface when deployed, and the angle which the said camera can swing about the pivot is up to 180 degrees.
 17. A smart mobile communication device as in claim 10, where the moveable camera assembly is a front-facing camera mounted on the top edge of the ‘smart’ mobile communication device, with the surface of the camera assembly flushed with the top border of the device, and the hinge in close proximity to the rear surface. When deployed, the camera assembly staying within the plane of the front surface, and the angle which the said camera can swing about the pivot is up to 180 degrees.
 18. A smart mobile communication device as in claim 17, where the moveable camera assembly is provided with a clear enclosure continuous with the monolithic body of the ‘smart’ mobile communication device, the said clear enclosure of optical quality material with or without varying refractive property in different regions. 